Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-11-08

nved as widowed be,rotned his widow.
| would amuse myself with this childish
affection: | even encouraged him; was
coquettish and bewitching, Just as might
have been with a man. made the child
dOte upon me. Ii was fun for me and an
amusing pastime for his mother and for
mine. He was Il years old Just think,
who would ever have imagined that this
atoms love was serious, | would kiss
him whenever he asked me to; would
even write him tender notes which our
mothers would read, and he would an
swer me with letters full of passion,
which still preserve. Believing himself
man he supposed that our love was kept
secret. We had all lost sight of the fact
that he was "a de SanteZe!
Things went on in this way for a year
or so. One evening in the park he fell at
my feet, and kissing the hem of my dress
re cried out paSsinnately: Il love you,
love you, love you To death. Ifyou ever
deceive me you understand what am say
ing; if you ever fursake me for another, /
shall do as did my father" And he
added in deep voice that sent a chill
through me: You know what he did"
Then, as ! stood motionless, dunn
founded, he rose. and standing on tiptOe
.
name, "Genevieve"' in so sweet, so pret-
", so tenGer a tone that | could not help
trembling all over.
stammercd: LET Us return home"
He said nothing more, but followed me in
silence: Just as we were about u ascend
the front door steps, however, he stopped
me- and said: Remember. that if you
forsake me | shall kill myself
Then, hut only then. | realized that I
/ had gone too far, and thenceforth | be
came more reserved with him. One day.
| as he reproached me for having changed
toward him, replied: You are too big
/ to Jest with now, and not yet old enough
. for serious love. l shall wait till you
are
| thought that this would end it all.
In autumn he was sent to boarding
| school. When he returned the following
summer i was engaged. He understood
| Immediately how matters stood, and for
! eight days went about with SO thoughtful
a mien that | became alarmed.
| The ninth day, as ! left my bed in the
/ morning, | noticed a small folded paper
( that bad been slipped under my door.
Picking it up and opening ii | read: lyon
/ have fCrsakcn me; you know what | told
/ you. You have condemned me 10 death.
! Is do not wish 10 be found by any one
/ Int you, go into the park, to the spot
/ where ! told you last year that loved
| you. and look up
felt that was going crazy. dressed
myself in all haste and ran SO fast to the
designated spot that I was ont Of breath
when | reached it. His little school cap
! lay on the ground in the mud. 1t had
been raining all night. looked up and
| perceived something swinging about
| among the leaves. for il was windy, very
| windy. that morning.
| don't know what happened after that.
| must have screamed and tainted dead
away afterward, for when l came TO my
senses found myself in bed, with my
mother III my side.
l thought that had dreamed all this
that | had had a horrid nightmare.
| stammered: Where, where is Gontran?"
No one answered. Twas true, then!
| / did no. dare 10 go to look NJ him; but
begged for lock Of his hair. This
| thig-is il.
And with look of poignant despair
tie old lady held out her trembling hand.
She blew her nose several times, dried
er eyes and continued: Il broke off my
narriage-without saying why. And L
| have ever cmained-the-the widow Of
that child - years old Then. dropping
her head, sic .ubbcd aloud and wept Bit
tcrly for a Ion while.
As we went up tu our rooms to rest, q
burly hunter. whose peace Of mind her
narrative seemed 10 have unsettled, whis-
pered to his neighbor:
isn't il unfortunate that person
should be so confouudedly sentimental as
| that.'-Translated for The TimeS-Demo-
crat from the French of Guy de Mau-
paSSant